by admin | Jul 5, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Political, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Written as a companion book to the movie by the same name to be released in July 2014, “Persecuted” probably doesn’t have the usual plot and character development readers of Robin Parrish novels have come to expect. Nevertheless the story very likely will fill in gaps missing from the film due to the very nature of its format. Despite the fact that the book reads much like an action movie, it was one that held my attention and proved to be very thought-provoking.
In my opinion, this story is not so much about the persecution of Christians but legislation that could lead to future persecution. I felt that the main focus here was the lengths those in power will go to shut down those who stand against them, especially if those people carry any influence over others. This story is one that could happen in today’s government and similar situations may already have occurred, unknown to the public. Just watching the national news allows glimpses into possible behind-the-scenes corruption and machinations.
“Persecuted” had a fast moving plot with lots of action and suspense. Ryan was a good example of how easily some people can be manipulated and John Luther was a man we would do well to emulate. We must stand up for what we believe before it is too late.
This book was provided for review by FlyBy Promotions Blogger Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Question Is Not IF Attempts Will Be Made to Limit Religious Freedoms, But When
The most popular evangelist of his day, John Luther, simply wants to share the Gospel and enjoy a quiet life with his family. He never asked to be at the center of a political controversy, but an ill wind has been blowing through the halls of Congress, and supporters of a new religious-equality bill see Luther’s endorsement as critical. But when Luther refuses to lend his support, he unknowingly sets in motion an explosive plan bent on destroying his reputation and undermining everything for which he stands. His once-normal life is turned upside down as he becomes a fugitive left with only one dangerous option–putting everything he holds most dear at risk while he fights to expose the truth. It is a mission that brings him face-to-face with the coming storm of persecution that could threaten the very fabric of our nation’s freedoms.
Bethany House Publishers presents Robin Parrish’s official novelization of the Daniel Lusko film, Persecuted. Available in cloth hardback, trade paperback, and ebook formats.
Read an excerpt from “Persecuted” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robin Parrish is a journalist who’s written about the intersection of faith and pop culture for more than a decade. He’s also the author of Offworld and The Dominion Trilogy . Robin and his wife and children live in North Carolina. Visit Robin’s website…www.robinparrish.com
Buzz about the film:“Bringing the battle of FREE SPEECH to light.” FoxNews
“House of Cards for the religious sect.” – POLITICO
“A big thumbs-up.” – American Family Association |
Be sure to check out PERSECUTED the movie at a theatre near you, July 18th!
Visit the official movie website: http://www.persecutedmovie.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/persecutedmovie |
GIVEAWAY:
I have one copy of “Persecuted” to give away. Please leave a comment on this post by Monday, July 14 for a chance to win.
“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”
by admin | Jun 21, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
I really liked “Deadly Devotion”, the first novel in Sandra Orchard’s Port Aster Secrets series so I was excited to have the chance to review the follow-up book, “Blind Trust”. This second installment takes up a short time after the ending of the first and finds Kate Adams in the center of more mystery, danger, and romance.
I have found Kate’s character to be an intelligent and savvy female who often finds herself in unexpected situations that sometimes require help to get out of. I love the subtle hints of humor that pop up in just the right spots without detracting from the suspense at all. Events in “Blind Trust” lead to more than one mystery for Kate to solve. Could it be that they are all related or just coincidence? I also enjoyed getting to know more about Detective Tom Parker and was glad to see him involved once again in Kate’s life. Still hoping for a satisfying resolution to their relationship.
“Blind Trust” was quick and easy to read with a fast paced plot that carried a few surprises. My one and only complaint is that once again I was left hanging and eagerly waiting for the next installment. Such is the case with many of the series I love. I understand why some readers refuse to begin reading a series before the last book in it is available. I do recommend reading “Deadly Devotion” first to be sure to get all the back story. “Blind Trust” will be all the more enjoyable if you do so.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Kate’s not sure how deep this deception goes–but she’ll do whatever it takes to find out.
Kate Adams had no idea she was carrying counterfeit money and can’t believe that it came from her sweet elderly neighbor. Or that it has landed her in the middle of another of Detective Tom Parker’s investigations. Determined to prove her neighbor’s innocence, Kate stumbles into a pit of intrigue far deeper than a two-bit counterfeit operation–and one that strikes too close to home for comfort.
As family secrets come to light, her world–and her budding romance with Tom–begin to crumble. To Kate, it’s clear that she won’t be safe until she uncovers all of Port Aster’s secrets. But then will it be too late for her and Tom?
Read an excerpt from “Blind Trust” HERE.
Endorsements:
“Blind Trust is a fun, sometimes quirky whodunit, full of everything a mystery lover is looking for, including a dash of romance. If you enjoy mysteries as much as I do, you won’t want to miss Sandra Orchard’s second installment in her Port Aster Secrets series.”
Lisa Harris, Christy Award finalist and author of Dangerous Passage
“Sandra Orchard weaves a clever web of suspense in this story of secrets, betrayal, and small-town intrigue. Seasoned with a sweet romance; a gripping, intelligent plot; and a few heart-touching surprises, Blind Trust will keep readers on the edge of their seats–and impatient for book three!”
Susan May Warren, award-winning, bestselling author of It Had to Be You
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sandra Orchard is the award-winning author of several inspirational romantic suspense/mysteries, including Deadly Devotion and Blind Trust. Her Love Inspired Suspense titles have garnered two Canadian Christian Writing Awards and a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award. Sandra has also received a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. In addition to her busy writing schedule, Sandra enjoys speaking at events and teaching writing workshops. She lives in Ontario, Canada. Learn more about Sandra’s books and check out the special bonus features, such as deleted scenes and location pics, at http://sandraorchard.com.
by admin | Jun 17, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Law Enforcement, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Once more Lis Wiehl with the help of April Henry has penned a novel that kept me turning the pages until I reached the end. I was surprised at how quickly I breezed through this one. It really held my attention. The plot moved at a brisk but steady pace with plenty of danger, suspense and a few surprises. A sub-plot helped to temper the momentum with glimpses of Mia Quinn’s daily routine as she and Detective Charlie Carlson attempted to determine how to prosecute a case involving juveniles.
The book opened with an attempt on Seattle prosecutor Mia Quinn’s life by an unhappy defendant and her day only went from bad to worse from there. A new case that could affect the outcome of the election for her boss and the possibility that her late husband’s accident may have been murder as well as other incidents added to her stress.
Although I liked the characters of both Mia and Charlie, at times it seemed as if they took a backseat to the plot driven story. I have no complaints with that – the story was well-developed and held my interest quite well. The potential romantic interest that both Charlie and another character displayed was incidental to the plot but added a few moments of relief to the suspense.
“A Deadly Business” was quite well done and I will continue to look forward to novels by this author.
This book was provided for review by the
BookLook Blogger Program of Harper Collins Christian Publishing.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
If the hours don’t kill you, the accused just might.
Mia Quinn is a Seattle prosecutor working on high profile cases in the Violent Crimes unit while juggling the impossible demands of single parenthood. Her husband, Scott, was killed in a car crash that homicide detective Charlie Carlson now believes was no accident. Charlie’s instincts and professional record make it impossible for Mia to refute the evidence she’d rather not believe.
When the powers that be refuse to reopen the case, it’s up to Mia and Charlie to investigate, all the while trying to deny a growing attraction between them. Was her accountant husband really in league with nefarious criminals? And who is the young woman whose photo they find on his computer?
Uncovering the truth may hurt Mia in more ways than one.
Read an excerpt from “A Deadly Business” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Lis Wiehl is one of the nation’s most prominent trial lawyers and highly regarded commentators. Currently, she is the legal analyst and reporter on the Fox News Channel and Bill O’Reilly’s sparring partner in the weekly “Is It Legal?” segment on The O’Reilly Factor. Prior to that she was O’Reilly’s co-host on the nationally syndicated show The Radio Factor. She is also a Professor of Law at New York Law School. Her column “Lis on Law” appears weekly on FoxNews.com.
Prior to joining Fox News Channel in New York City, Wiehl served as a legal analyst and reporter for NBC News and NPR’s All Things Considered. Before that, Wiehl served as a Federal Prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s office.
Wiehl earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and her Master of Arts in Literature from the University of Queensland.
Wiehl is also the author of The 51% Minority, which won the 2008 award for Books for a Better Life in the motivational category, and Winning Every Time.
She lives with her husband and two children in New York.
Noted author Roald Dahl helped New York Times bestselling author April Henry take her first step as a writer. When April was eleven, she sent the famous children’s author a short story about a frog who loved peanut butter. He read it to an editor of an international children’s magazine, who then asked to publish it. April has since written several highly acclaimed mysteries and thrillers. Her books have been short-listed for the Agatha Award, the Anthony Award, and the Oregon Book Award, and translated into several languages. Two have been chosen for BookSense by the independent booksellers of America. April lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and daughter.
by admin | Jun 12, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
The plot of “Seagrass Pier” is a unique one that features Elin, a heart transplant recipient who frequently experiences what seem to be memories of her donor’s murder. Nearly everyone is skeptical until suspicious incidents, threats, and a stalker convince FBI agent Marc that Elin, her mother, and daughter may actually be in serious danger.
“Seagrass Pier” was a page-turner from the very start and the suspense grew with each chapter. As the story progressed, the suspect list grew along with more than one surprising twist to the tale. Characters and dialogue were well developed and natural. As expected, a romance between Elin and Marc was inevitable yet 100% believable. Both Marc and Elin were flawed but admirable characters whose concern for others was obvious. Although not a predominate factor in the story, Marc and Elin’s faith during their trials was apparent.
I have read and loved nearly every book Colleen Coble has written. If I have missed one, you can be sure it will be in my possession asap. Needless to say I jumped at the chance to review “Seagrass Pier” when it was offered by the Litfuse Group and hoped to be chosen as one of the reviewers. Even if I had missed out, I would have already preordered the book and would now be eagerly awaiting its release date. So thankful I didn’t have to wait that long. I thoroughly enjoyed “Seagrass Pier” as well as the rest of the Hope Beach series and hated to see its end. I enthusiastically recommend it and any other book by Colleen Coble.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In a secluded corner of Hope Beach, one woman must decipher a stranger’s memories . . . before they cost her everything.
Elin Summerall was one of the lucky ones. Not only did she get a heart transplant, but the donor was a perfect fit. A miraculously perfect fit.
But when Elin begins having violent flashbacks—and vivid dreams of being strangled—she realizes that she has been the recipient of more than just a new heart . . . Elin is remembering her donor’s murder.
Her strange affliction has attracted some unwanted attention: from the press, from the authorities . . . and from the killer himself. Now, living alone with her young daughter and aging mother, Elin is being stalked—by a man she’s only met in her nightmares.
The police are dubious of her story, but one off-duty FBI agent is eager to help her: Agent Marc Everton, the father of Elin’s daughter.
Of course, he doesn’t know about that. Yet.
Now, in a remote cottage on Hope Island, Elin and Marc must probe the secrets buried in her borrowed heart. And there’s no time to waste. One man is desperate to silence her—before she remembers too much.
Learn more and purchase a copy at Colleen’s website.
Read a preview of “Seagrass Pier” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. “Seagrass Pier,” the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble’s addictive brand of romantic suspense.
Find out more about Colleen at http://www.colleencoble.com/.
by admin | Jun 5, 2014 | Books, Military, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Ronie has really upped the ante with “Raptor 6”. I promise you, her books just keep getting better with each one published.
As a military suspense, “Raptor 6” is top notch. Heart-stopping scenes had me holding my breath – afraid to keep reading but unable to stop. I knew that everything would probably work out just fine at the end . . . but would it? The perfectly paced plot keep me turning the pages (and losing sleep) until I reached the end. Convincing characters and lifelike dialogue combined with action, danger, suspense, and a touch of romance for the perfect novel. If I had a complaint, it would be the fact that at least one element of the story was unresolved and I have to wait for the next installment of the series to learn more.
I certainly hope that the real life men and women in our armed forces share the courage and integrity portrayed by Ronie’s characters. If they experience even a fraction of what the men and women were exposed to in this book, our country owes them far more respect and honor than what has been shown by our government and citizens recently.
“Raptor 6” is definitely a must read book. Don’t wait too long to pick up a copy.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Quiet Professionals series | Raptor 6
His team. His mission. A mission that comes at the highest cost!
Captain Dean Watters keeps his mission and his team in the forefront of his laser-like focus. So when Dean’s mission and team are threatened, his Special Forces training kicks into high gear. Failing to stop hackers from stealing national security secrets from the military’s secure computers and networks isn’t an option.
Zahrah Zarrick is a missionary teacher to Afghan children in Mazar-e Sharif. And a target. When Zahrah is captured because of her expertise in quantum cryptology, compromising the U.S. military, Dean is forced to crack the lockbox around his heart—a move that might come at the highest cost.
Find out more and purchase a copy at Ronie’s website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author who grew up an Army brat. She married a veteran, and together their lives are never dull with four children and two dogs–a a Maltese Menace and a retired military working dog, Vvolt N629. Ronie’s degree in psychology has helped her pen novels of intense, raw characters. Since launching onto the publishing scene in 2010, Ronie and her books have hit bestseller lists and garnered awards and critical acclaim.
Raptor 6! Enter to win a Kindle HDX.
Don’t miss the first book, Raptor 6, in Ronie Kendig‘s new Quiet Professionals series. Ronie combines a dangerous romance and explosive action for a thrilling and satisfying ride. “Lock and load for this Spec Op, fighting under God’s ‘rules of engagement.'” —Bob Hamer, veteran FBI undercover agent and award-winning author
Ronie is celebrating with a Kindle HDX Giveaway!
One winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire HDX
- Raptor 6 by Ronie Kendig
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 15th. Winner will be announced June 16th on Ronie’s blog.
Don’t miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Ronie’s blog on June 16th to see if you won.
by admin | Jun 3, 2014 | Books, Speculative, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“Again” is a book for those who enjoy plenty of action, improbable situations that stretch the imagination, a strong dose of humor, and some mystery and suspense. This new ebook by John Leatherman has all of that and more in its nearly 400 pages.
Imagine if you will that for every day on the calendar, you get two bonus “preview” days with the third day the only one that will have permanent history. Some would think that would be a fantastic life with plenty of chances for do-overs and maybe even to cash in on knowledge gained during the first two days. Well, that is how Chance Trifle has lived his entire life but he has not found it to be quite the dream life he would like. In fact, at times it could be like living a nightmare. The story chronicles Chance’s first few days as an intern for a television station following his attempt to prevent the murder of a well-known rock star.
I found that I had to stay on my toes to keep up with everything that happened since there were three versions of each day. Sometimes it seemed that even Chance was confused. Overall, this book was quite entertaining with many laughable moments and some perfect opportunities for reflection.Despite his proclivity for trouble, Chance was a likeable character and I was happy that everything turned out well for him in the end.
This book was provided for review by Glass Road Public Relations.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
From the incredibly intricate storyteller John Leatherman comes a tale with more twists and turns than any episode of Sherlock.For television news intern Chance Trifle, the third time really is the charm. He experiences every day three times, and only what happens on the third version is permanent. The rest of the world seems unaware that each day has two unofficial versions.
Chance’s foreknowledge allows him to get what he thinks is his ticket to journalistic stardom – video of the murder of pop star Prima by record producer Sam Mason. But each unofficial attempt to release the sensational video goes horribly wrong, so on the official days, Chance keeps it secret. Meanwhile, he juggles relationships with two female interns, Danielle Arbusto and Trish Villanova-both captivated by his apparent cleverness.
With every moment Chance sits on the video, he feels more and more in league with a criminal. Obsessed with finding the right way to protect himself, profit from the video, and keep his girlfriends from finding out about each other, Chance misses hearing about the abduction of five-year-old Wendy Starnes until after his last chance to prevent it. Then as he struggles to help find Starnes, the video goes missing and turns up anonymously on the Web. It’s only a matter of time before someone links it to him-and realizes he could have saved Prima and brought a murderer to justice if he hadn’t been so focused on himself.
On the run from conniving coworkers, spurned lovers, determined detectives, bloodthirsty thugs, and fierce mercenaries, can Chance take his mind off personal gain long enough to realize the right way to use his gift?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
John Leatherman is a freelance writer, editor, cartoonist, blogger, and cruciverbalist. His fiction has won awards from Word Weavers International, American Christian Fiction Writers, Christian Writers Guild, Southern Writers, and Florida Christian Writers. When not writing, drawing, editing, puzzling, and fighting crime, Mr. Leatherman maintains a secret identity as a Central Florida software consultant with two kids.
